Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin will address agriculture leaders attending Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s annual leadership conference Feb. 21-22 at the Marriott Hotel on Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City.
Governor Fallin is scheduled as the keynote speaker for the Monday evening session of the leadership conference.
“We are excited to have Governor Fallin talk to our leaders concerning her legislative initiatives this year,” said Mike Spradling, OFB president.
The conference will kick off with greetings from Spradling, followed by a presentation from Steven Rhines, general counsel for the Nobel Foundation.
The afternoon session will also include OFB’s Public Policy staff explaining Farm Bureau’s priority issues, followed by a panel discussion on the next farm bill.
The farm bill panel will be narrated by Scott Neufeld, Fairview producer and chairman of the OFB Farm Bill Committee. Other panel members include Francie Tolle, Farm Service Agency (FSA) state director; Dr. Mike Dicks, OSU agricultural economics professor; and Garrett King, Oklahoma Agriculture Liaison for Congressman Frank Lucas.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau will honor state legislators with the organization’s Meritorious Service Awards. These awards are based on the lawmaker’s support of agriculture and Farm Bureau issues.
The schedule for Tuesday, Feb. 22, features a panel of legislative leaders, including State Senators Sean Burrage and Mike Schulz, and Representatives Scott Inman and Dale DeWitt.
Three cabinet-level state officials will address issues relating to their divisions. Those officials include Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese, Secretary of State Glenn Coffee, and Secretary of Environment Gary Sherrer.
“This conference is packed with information valuable to our members,” Spradling said. “There are not many meetings where you get this caliber of state leaders together in one room at the same time.”
